Did you know there are things you should NEVER post on Instagram? These suggestions are for general businesses on Instagram. You’re not here to read a bunch of fluff, so let’s get right down to it:

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A ton of personal content. I like to ask myself, “If I was a potential follower who did NOT know me, what would I want to see?” An occasional family shot or personal life post is recommended, but every single day? No, thanks!

Non-branded (likely stolen) quotes. If you’re reposting blurry quotes you screenshot from Pinterest, not only is that stealing, but it’s also going to make it hard to develop a feed aesthetic. When you focus on creating and posting original content, your page will be much more tempting to follow.

Generic holiday posts. Holidays are great opportunities to stand out from the crowd. Rather than a fireworks video or “Merry Christmas” graphic, post something that won’t immediately be scrolled past.

“Subtweets" or bashing posts. As a business, you will have people leave you bad reviews. You’ll have competitors talk about you (even if they don’t directly say it’s about you). Rise above! While your feelings may be hurt, you need to keep your page professional. If I were considering hiring someone and saw they were being petty on Instagram, I’d be out!

Low-quality, blurry, or off-brand content. If the photo you want to post is off-brand or not very attractive, stick it on your Instagram Story instead!

Reposts without permission. I’ve done it. You’ve probably done it. Either way, it was a major mistake. I recommend asking or permission (via comment or DM), screenshotting the permission, and tagging the original poster in both the image and the caption. If you repost without permission, you may be upsetting the original poster, charged a fee, or even sued!

The exact same type of content every day. This includes selfies, sales pitches, quotes, etc. Mix it up!

Any photo that has a face without a model or social media release. Trust me, it’s not worth the potential lawsuit. Always get permission to post a photo you’ve taken of a client!

Links anywhere but in the URL block on your profile. If you include a link in your caption, comments, or bio on Instagram, it won’t be clickable. Trust me, no one is going to go back and forth between Instagram and their browser to visit your link. Put your link in your URL block, or use Linktr.ee!

Photos with any nudity (even of kids). “Maggie.. what is wrong with you?! Why would I post that?!” I know, it should go without saying. However, this includes posting cute pictures of your kiddo in the bathtub. While it may seem harmless, it violates Instagram’s Terms of Service, AND (more importantly) your “harmless” photo can easily be screenshot and put in places of the web that you do NOT want your child’s photo to be.

Overly political or offensive content. Ultimately, this will depend on the type of business you run and the type of follower you have. While I believe in standing up for what is right, I love escaping to Instagram when Facebook becomes overrun with political debates. While you may feel comfortable posting your preferred presidential candidate (that’s not my cup of tea, but it’s your business!), try to avoid posting content that bashes anyone else. Let’s work on building a supporting, loving, accepting community! Keep those unprofessional posts on your personal feed.

Do you agree or disagree with this list? Let me know in the comments!

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